Automatic setting appakatus



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheen 1.

T. W. BURT. AUTOMATIC SETTING APPARATUS.

No. 338,824. Patented Mar. 3,0, 1886.

mins. mums-1pm. wnningm (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. W. BURT. AUTOMATIC SETTING APPARATUS. No. 338,824. Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

N. PETERS, Pnawulhagnphur. wnshngmn. D. t;

llNrTan STATES PATENT @erica TOVNSEND V. BURT, OF MINEOLA, NEV YORK.

AUTOMATICSETTING APPARATUS EPECIE'ICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,824, dated March 30, 1885.

Application filed December 29, 1885.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ToWNsEND \V. BURT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mineola, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Setting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to an automatic setting apparatus for operating the gates, signals,&c., on railway-tracks; and the novelty consists of the combination of the elements hereinafter described, and in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the parts or elements, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and specilically pointed out in the claims.

A primary object of this invention is to pr0 vide an apparatus that is to be placed alongside of the rails of a railroad-track,to be automatically operated by the wheels of a passing train, so as to elevate at a slow rate a signal, gate, or the like, whereby the strain and wear on the various part-s is reduced to a minimum and the danger of breakage of the parts due to the rapid operation of prior devices of this character are avoided.

A further object of this invention is to provide means which shall be successively operated to act upon the gate, signal, or the like with a step-bystep motion; to provide means which shall be simultaneously thrown into engagement with a movable setting bar or rod when acted on by the car-wheels, and instantaneously and automatically released from engagement and drawn away from the setting rod or bar after the car-wheels cease to act upon each lever of the apparatus or device; to provide shifting mechanism that is adapted to move in unison with the movable setting-rod when the signals or the gate are set, and which shifting mechanism operates to prevent the movable setting-rod from acting further on the said signals or gate; and to provide means which shall be simple, strong, and durable in construction, thoroughly effective, and automatic in operation, and comparatively cheap.

In a pending application filed by me on the 20th day of May, 1885, Serial No. 166,078, I have shown the improved setting apparatus which is made the subject-matter of the pres- (No model.)

ent application as adapted and applied for use in connection with an automatic block-signaling apparatus; but I would have it understood that I do not confine myselfto using this setting apparatus in connection with the signaling apparatus before referred to, as the setting apparatus can be used for various purposes where it is desirable to operate devices at a distance therefrom at aslow rate or a stepby-step motion to obviate breakage and wear to the parts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved automa-tic setting apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the movable setting-rod before it is fed lforward by thegripping devices ofthe successively-operated levers. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the machine to show the levers, and after the setting-rod has been fed forward to engage the shifting mechanism. Fig. 4 is a def-ail perspective View of one of the operating -levers and the devices operated thereby detached from the machine. Fig. 5 is a crosssectional view on the line x :v of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail view of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures, A designates one of the .rails of a railway-track, and B designates my improved setting apparatus arranged `alongside ofthe track and adapted to be automatically operated by a train passing over the track.

The setting apparatus has a series of levers, C,which are located outside of one of the rails, and the upper ends of these levers normally project above the upper edge of the rail, eX- cept when they are acted on by the wheels of a passing train,which depresses them below the plane of the upper surface of the rail. The levers C are arranged in an inclined position, as shown, so that when a train passes in one direction, as shown by the arror No. l in Fig. 1, it will depress the levers without breaking them and act on the same at a point some distance from the free ends thereof, and the said free ends of the levers have an angular or inclined arm, c,whereby when a train travels in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrow No. 2 in Fig. 1, the ends of the levers are prevented from being suddenly and IOO abruptly struck by the wheels to obviate the danger of breaking them. These levers are depressed successively by a passing train,and`

they remain in such depressed or lowered position for ashort space of time while the wheels act on them. The levers are keyed or otherwise rigidly secured on rock-shafts D, that extend outwardly from the track at right angles thereto,and are journaled in proper bear-A ings vor boxes d, that are suitably disposed and' secured. The ends of these rock-shafts opposite to the levers C are each provided with an upwardly-extendedarm, d', and this arm d ofthe rock-shaft is rigidly secured toa bent lever, D', that carries a weight, D2, at its outer end,which weight serves to normally hold the arm D' in a depressed orlowered position, and to elevate the free end of the lever C normally above the plane of the track-rail, as will be very readily understood.

F designates a series of spaced uprights or` standards, one of which is located between two adjacent rock-shafts, D, and these uprights are of any preferred construction and supported in any suitable manner. Each upright is provided with two grooved frictioual rollers, j', that are disposed within the upright and one below -the other, the rollers being loosely mounted on pins or shafts f that are supported in the uprights.

Gdesignates a movable setting-rod that is arranged longitudinally ofthe apparatus and between the uprights F. rThis rod is arranged between and'supported by the frictional rollersf, and the ends of the setting-rod project beyond the uprights, alink (not shown) being connected to one end of the rod and connecting the same with the mechanism that leads to the gate, signal, 85e.

H designates my preferred form of gripping device or clampthat are arranged in series, one clamp being provided for each rock-shaft and lever. Each clamp comprises two plates, which are arranged above and beneath the movable setting-rod, and they have grooves on their inner faces that engage the rod and rit snugly around the same; Each of these grips or clamps is supported in an opening in a vertically-disposed holder, I, which is provided with two arms, I I, that are preferably disposed at an angle thereto, and lie above' and below the movable setting-rod. The lower arm, I2, of the holder lI has an ap- Y kerture therein for the reception of the upper thegripping or clamping devices.

end of the arm d of the rock-shaft D, which is provided for each of the clamps or grips H and the holder I, thus loosely connecting the said arm d of the rock-shaft to the holder and The lower arm, I2, of each holder I is provided at its free end with a weight, t, that assists the weighted rock-shaft D to draw the clamping or gripping device H and the holder I back to their normal positions after the lwheels of the train cease to act on the levers C, and this weighted end of the arm I2 is in contact with' the movable setting-rod when it yreturns the holder -levers C, and its attached devices.

and clampsto-their normal position'to prevent the clampsfrom drawing the movable setting-rod rearwardly, or in the reverse direction. The upper arm, I', of each of the holders I normally rests or vabuts against a plate or bar, J, the function of which will presently appear.

K K designate the rods or bars of the shifting mechanism. These rods are disposed 1ongitudinally of the apparatus, and at the upper and lower ends of the uprights F, the upper bar, K, being arranged between the uprights and supported on pins k, that are held in the Vuprights or on friction-rollers journaled on said pins, and the lower rod, K/, is arranged outside ofthe uprights, near the bases thereof. These rods or bars are connected at intermediate points of their length by the plates J, which are disposed vertically t-o one side of each of the uprights F and in a slightly-inclined position, the-ends of said bars being rigidly fastened` lor secured to the shiftingrods K K in any suitable manner. One end of the movable setting rod or bar G is provided with a stop, g', rigidly held thereon, and this stop is adapted to engage an arm or loop, L,when the Setting-rod has been fed forward for a certain determined distance bythe This arm or loop L is rigidly secured on a rock-shaft, L', that isjourn'aled in a proper bearing, l, and to one erd of this shaft is pivotally connected a link, Z2, which is also pivoted to one of the front bars, J, of the movable shiftingrods K K. Y

rIhe operation of my invention is as follows: When the wheels of a passing train depress one of the levers G, the lever causes the shaft D to oscillate or rock in its bearings and elevates the weighted end of the arm- D. Simultaneously with the rocking movement of the shaft D the arm d' thereof Vacts upon the holder I, so as to cause the same to move out of avertical into an inclined position, to throw the lower weighted arm, I2,thereofI out of contact with the movable setting-rod, the vertical portion of the holder being moved out of its vertical into an inclined position, to cause the clamps or grips to bind on -the movable setting-rod, and carry or feed the same forward with the clamps for a certain `predetermined distance, the entire holder being moved forwardly with the setting-rod when the clamp or grip acts upon the rod, and this movement of the holder draws the arm I away from the bar J. When the wheel of the train ceasesto act on the lever C, the weighted arm D returns the lever to its normal elevated position, and the friction-clamps are automatically and simultaneously released from their binding action on the movable setting-rod G.. When the rock-shaft and holder are returnedv by the Weights to Ytheir normal position, ythe holder again assumes its'vertical position to release the clamps from the setting-rod, and

the rear ends of its arms I Iibear against thev t' of the arm I2 bearing against the setting-rod. This action of the parts takes place every timea car-wheel depresses and releases a lever C, and as the levers are successively operated very rapidly they feed the movable setting bar or rod G to the desired distancein ashort time, the bar being moved or fed forward with a step-bystep motion. When the movable setting bar or rod has been fed forward acertain distance, the stop g thereon strikes the loop or arm L and oscillates the shaft L in its bearings, and as this shaft is connected to the shifting rods or bars K K', they are moved in unison with the movable setting-rod, and simultaneously therewith, should the carwheels still act on the levers C. The movable bars K K carry the bars J with them in their movements, and these bars J act on the ends of both of the arms I IL of the holders I and prevent the holders from being thrown o a vertical into an inclined position, in which latter position the friction-clamps act upon the movable setting-rod G, the entire apparatus,with the exception of the rigid uprights F and the various journahboxes, being moved when the bars J act on the holders I. It will thus be seen that when the stop of the setting-rod has moved the bars K K J forward, so that the latter force the holders I into a vertical position, the clamps will be free from engagement with the movable setting-rod, and are thus prevented from actuating the same, and, further, that when the holder is moved and held forward by the bars J K the arm d in engagement with the holder will hold the rock-shaft in such a position that the weighted arm D' thereto will be elevated out of its normal position, and the lever C will be depressed below the rail, so as to be out of the way of the wheels of a passing train, all of the holders, levers, and rockshafts throughout the apparatus assuming this position. The arm or loop L of the rock-shaft L is inclined upwardly, so that when the stop g of the movable setting-rod strikes the said loop or arm it will yield to rock the shaft and cause the stop to bind thereon, thus locking the movable setting-rod to the loop or arm by frictional contact between the stop and loop, as is obvious. XVhen the stop of the movable setting-rod is moved out of engagement with the loop or arm L, the rod is free to be fed forward by the gripping or clamping devices and the weighted levers.

It will be observed from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, that the movable setting rod is fed forward in a stepbystep motion, which will serve to operate a signal, gate, &c., gradually, to obviate the danger of breaking the parts thereof, which is so common in devices of this character which have been heretofore designed or proposed; further, that the levers are successively depressed and their gripping devices engage the setting-rod one after another to feed it forward, and that the gripping devices are instantaneously released from the setting-rod when the Weighted lever returns the operating-lever to its normal elevated position; that the shifting mechanism is automatically operated by the movable setting-rod when the latter hasbeen fed forward a certain distance, the shifting mechanism moving in unison with the setting-rod and serving to prevent the rod froln acting further on the gate or signal; and, linally, that the parts are simple in construction and operation. It will be further observed that each of the rock-shafts and the clamping devices therefor are independent and separate from the similar devices which are arranged in series, and that each device operates independently of its fellow device. Thus when one rock -shaft or clamp becomes useless, through wear or breakage of the parts, it can remain inactive or be removed without affecting in any way the remaining clamps and their operating mechanism.

If it is desired, the lever C, its rock-shaft D, and the arm d may be made in one single piece of metal. Onlyone lever may be employed to move lthe rod, or two or any number may be added, as it is obvious that one lever can be employed to set the rod G-as, for instance, as when a long train passes over the track the great number of wheels will operate to depress the single lever a sufficient number of times to move the rod the required distance. The ends oftl1elevers,when they are connected in series, may be extended so as to lap the lever before it, so that when the levers are depressed they will operate the rod G continuously.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 I have substituted a spring, I?, for the weight D2 on the arm D of the rock-shaft, for the purpose of returning the lever of the rock-shaft to its normal position, and a spring can also be substituted for the weighted arm of the holder I.

I do not desire to confine myself' to the forni of gripping device shown herein, nor to the precise form and proportion of parts, as I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from the principle of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a movable settingrod and two or more levers, each provided with a gripping device adapted to be thrown into engagement with the rod to move the same, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a movable settingrod and a series of successively-operated 1evers provided with gripping devices and adapted to engage and move the rod, substantially as described. v

3. rIhe combination of a movable settingrod and a series of successively-operated levers provided with gripping devices to engage and move the rod in a step-bystep motion, and automatically released from the rod simultaneously with the return of the levers to ICO their normal position, substantially as described.

4. rllhe combination of a movable setting-rod v and a series of independent levers operated successively and each provided with a gripping device that is thrown into engagement with the movable rod when the lever is de- 'pressed, -and automatically and instantaneously released from the rod when the lever is elevated to its normal position, each of the gripping devices of the series being operated independently of the lfellovvr gripping devices of the series, and only by the lever to which it is connected, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a movable setting-rod and a series of levers, each lever being provided With a gripping device that engages the rod When the lever is depressed, and released from the rod when the lever is returned to its normal position, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a movable setting-rod and levers having gripping devices arranged and operated to move the rod in a step-by-step motion, substantially as' described.

7. rlhe combination of a movable setting-rod fed With a step-by-step motion and levers having gripping devices for engaging and feeding the rod, substantially as described.

8. The combination of the levers, a movable setting-rod operated by the levers, and a shifting mechanism operated by the setting-rod when the latter has been moved a certain dis- 11. The combination of a movable settingrod, a rock-shaft carrying a holder, and gripping-clamps, loosely mounted in the holder and operated thereby to actuatel the settingrod, substantially asdescribed. Y 12. The combination of a movable settingrod, a Weighted lever, a holder, and gripping devices mounted in the holder and operated thereby-when the levers are moved, substantially as described. f

13. The combination of the movable settingrod, a Weighted lever, a weighted movable holder, and gripping devices carried by the holder, substantially as described.

14. The combination of a movable settingrod, a series of weighted levers, a movable holder for each lever,'and a gripping device mounted in each holder and adapted to operate the movable rod independently ofthe other gripping devices of the series, substantially as described. v v

15. The combination of the movable settingrod, a series of rock-shafts, each having a 1e- 'i i* ver and a Weighted arm, a movable holder connected to the rock-shaft and havingthe arms, and a gripping device carried and operated by the holder to move the rod, substantially as described.

16. The combination of the movable settingrod having a stop, a series of levers, a holder connected to each lever and carrying the gripping devices, an oscillating shaft having an inclined stop-arm, and shifting-rods connected with the oscillating shaft, and having bars J to bear lon the holders and prevent the gripping devices from engaging the movable rod,

substantially as described.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoing asl my own Ihave hereto afXed myfsiguature in presence of three witnesses.

TOWNSENDW. BURT.

Witnesses:

E. G. SIGGnRs,

H. F. BERNHooD, XVM. N. MOORE. 

